A ROW has erupted over the ticket allocation for travelling Toon fans wanting to watch Newcastle’s return to European action.

Fans face a scramble for seats to the clash with Bruges after it emerged just 1,470 tickets had been set aside for Tyneside supporters.

And today Belgian police issued a warning to supporters intent on causing violence insisting they would not tolerate drink-fuelled disorder.

Under UEFA rules, Bruges must make just 5% of seats available inside the 29,000-seater Jan Breydel Stadium to away fans.

Newcastle United and fans have made a desperate plea for more tickets to the fixture on November 8 which could see more than 10,000 ticketless fans make the 435-mile trip from Tyneside.

But their demands were rejected and - as fears are raised over possible disorder - police in the Bruges football unit today issued a warning to those intent on causing mayhem.

A spokesman said: “Whether they are Newcastle fans, Dutch fans or German fans, we will not allow disorder and violence. We have clear communication with the police in Newcastle and Newcastle United and it is our view that the football supporters who come to Bruges are our guests as each tourist is a guest. We ask them to respect the fact that they are a guest here.”

Last year around 5,000 tickets were allocated for the Belgian club’s clash with Birmingham during the Europa League competition.

Newcastle United chiefs had held negotiations with police on Tyneside and their foreign counterparts in a last-ditch effort to increase ticket allocations.

Bruges said they had refused to allocate more tickets because of rocketing demand from home supporters wanting the watch Newcastle’s stars.

In 2000, England fans caused trouble in Bruges, Brussels and Charleroi during the European Championship finals. And in 1995 more than 1,000 Chelsea fans were deported before a European tie.

Newcastle United had requested a far larger allocation, based on the numbers of fans who wanted to travel to Belgium, but their pleas to the club failed.

A club spokesman said they had “been in constant contact with their Bruges counterparts to try and resolve the matter but to no avail”. And they even contacted UEFA in a bid to change the decision.

Mick Edmondson, owner of football memorabilia shop The Back Page, has already arranged more than 400 spots on flights and ferries to the Belgian city.

Today he branded the decision “unbelievable” and said English officials should pressurise the home team to change the decision. He said: “We’re told the club asked for 5,000 tickets but Bruges have put a stop to it.”

Supt Andy McDyer, match commander for Newcastle United, said: “As part of our role we work closely with the UK Football Policing Unit and liaise with local police forces for each of the Newcastle United away fixtures to support them and the fans attending the games.”

A Newcastle United spokesman advised supporters not to make any travel plans for Bruges until they are guaranteed a ticket for the match.